Banksy

Elusive British graffiti artist, likewise famous and infamous for his stencil graffiti in public places not only in the UK but around the world. Although being internationally known Banksy so far managed to hide his real identity.

Works

Banksy became known for his socio-critical, political and also humorous graffiti art. His thought-provoking pieces often include a subversive statement against commercial mass culture, mainstream and bourgeoisie. He often offers alternative, anarchist and satirical views on political, cultural and social matters. He started spraying in the early nineties inspired by “3D”, one of the founding members of “Massive Attack”. After being almost caught by British Transport Police while spraying a train he started to use stencils in order to reduce the time of creating an image, which made him finally popular in the mid-2000s. He became known for his works in Bristol and London but they can be found all over England, in the USA, Australia, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Caribbean, Mexico and even on Israel's security wall. Besides he attracted attention with subversions of classical pieces of art such as the Mona Lisa and placing his works in exhibitions without permission. His paintings and installation were found in London's Tate, the British Museum and the Louvre in Paris, among others. Interestingly enough, he did commissional work for a good cause (e.g. for Greenpeace) and even designed CD-covers such as Blur's album Tink Tank in 2003.

Art or Vandalism?

Banksy's art polarises. It is controversially discussed if a graffiti by Banksy is simply vandalism - as it is still illegal to paint private and public buildings - or if it is art that proves itself to be valuable. Some leave his works behind perplex. Councils immediately repaint his graffiti and remove his installations as it pops up. Banksy, of course, sees his nightly paintings as art as he once claimed: "Art should have your pulse racing, your palms clammy with nerves and the excitement of creating something truly original in a dangerous environment" (Chaundy). Nevertheless, or precisely for this alternative perception of art, he declares himself against the commercialisation of art and exhibitions, which he thematically reflects satirically in his works, e.g. in a mockup of a cave painting showing a cave man hunting with a shopping trolley. Certainly painting walls, buildings and houses without permission is illegal. Yet there can be seen a development towards a change of perception of graffiti as people nowadays speak of “street art”. Even Hollywood celebrities like Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Christina Aguilera spend thousands of dollars for original pieces of Banksy.

Myth of Identity

Until today Banksy managed to keep his real identity a widely discussed secret which is part of the myth about his world-wide recognition. He is said to be from Bristol, to live in London and to be in his 40s nowadays. Yet these are speculations as he has never been caught in the act. Media keeps speculating about him being called Robert or Robin Banks. Yet there is no proof. Some years ago a much-hyped picture occurred in the papers that is supposed to show Banksy at work in Jamaica in 2004. It shows a middle-aged man with spray cans and a stencil of a heart balloon very similar to Banksy's famous “Girl with balloon”. With this picture the Daily Mail went to search for Banksy in Bristol where he is supposed to come from. The Daily Mail claims that the picture shows a middle-class man called Robin Gunningham. Of course Banksy denies to be the man on the picture so that there is again no proof. Even his documentary film Exit through the Gift Shop, which was released in 2010, does not reveal anything about the identity of Britain's most celebrated graffiti artist. Still, his identity remains a mystery.

Sources

Blanché, Ulrich. Something to s(pr)ay: Der Street Artivist Banksy. Eine kunstwissenschaftliche Untersuchung. Marburg: Tectum Verlag, 2010.

Chaundy, Bob. “Faces of the Week: Banksy.” BBC News, 2006. Web. 29 April 2012. <[1]>

Joseph, Claudia. “Graffiti artist Banksy unmasked ... as a former public schoolboy from middle-class suburbia.” Mail Online. 2008. Associated Newspapers Ltd. Web. 29 April 2012. <[2]>